Hi Everyone.
I would really like to know how you guys are doing in your first semester. Is it incredibly hard or not? Im starting this fall and I am terrified about how its going to be. I know everyone has their own story but i would really like to hear about your experiences.

Don't let any horror stories get to you the first semester. The first semester is really not that bad. It is A LOT of work but it is not difficult work. The most difficult adjustment is time management. You need to study as often as possible. Find a way that you learn and stick with it. Be it note cards, graphs, charts, outlines, etc. Do not over study. Repeat, do not overstudy! Focus on what you are learning in class because a lot of these concepts you will continually build upon throughout your time here. Find students who have had your instructors and ask how you should study. It is different for every instructor. Don't be afraid to ask questions because I can promise you 90% of the class is probably thinking the same thing. Oh, make sure to get a Clinical book for nursing and and a Lab value book for nursing. Ask your advisor about these. Get them early, they help tremendously in clinical. Good Luck!

Don't let any horror stories get to you the first semester. The first semester is really not that bad. It is A LOT of work but it is not difficult work. The most difficult adjustment is time management. You need to study as often as possible. Find a way that you learn and stick with it. Be it note cards, graphs, charts, outlines, etc. Do not over study. Repeat, do not overstudy! Focus on what you are learning in class because a lot of these concepts you will continually build upon throughout your time here. Find students who have had your instructors and ask how you should study. It is different for every instructor. Don't be afraid to ask questions because I can promise you 90% of the class is probably thinking the same thing. Oh, make sure to get a Clinical book for nursing and and a Lab value book for nursing. Ask your advisor about these. Get them early, they help tremendously in clinical. Good Luck!

Thanks so much Occy!! I really appreciate it. I will definitely get those books. I guess im just nervous because i dont know what to expect. I will just take a deep breath and do my very best. Ive worked so hard to get here and i wont be stopped... lol but again thanks so much for you comment..

I was nervous when I first started. Just remember, (which a few instructors kept reminding us), You were good enough to get into Charity, you are good enough to stay. Just study hard and stay on top of paperwork. Do a little bit of studying each day (even if it is one hour, aim for at least 2 though). And TAKE BREAKS! Step away from everything and just go outside. Play with your kids, play with your dogs, go for a run, watch some TV, just take a break. Your brain and body will thank you. Oh, and remember to sleep. Don't stay up all hours of the night studying, it will never help you. Try not to be nervous when the first test comes around. If you paid attention in class, studied and do practice questions (Fundamentals Success 2nd edition book is excellent as well as questions after each chapter and any other book you can find such as NCLEX books) you will do fine. The clinical rotations do not start right away for first semester students so you have extra time to study!! Take advantage because when clinical starts you will have fewer hours to study. It really isn't bad (I may change my mind next semester). Nursing school is just a lot of work and at Charity they WANT you to BECOME a nurse. They don't want anyone to fail. Questions are not tricky, most are straight forward. DO NOT OVER THINK! Just enjoy it and make friends for life with your classmates, upperclassmen, and teachers. They are all there to help. Sorry for the rant, I am just taking a break from studying

Thanks again. To tell you the truth, Im just ready to get in there to start becoming a nurse.You are right, If I wasn't good enough to get in, I wouldn't be in. I have that book also. Im going to start on it this summer so i can have some sort of idea of how to answer the questions. Im so glad that you took the time out to help me because you were once in my shoes. I just have to shake these nerves off of me.

Anyone have clinical at St. Tammany? I thought I read somewhere that this clinical wasn't recommended. It would be great to be on the northshore for clincals but I also don't want to waste my time and would rather drive somewhere to get a good clinical experience.

OK, bad news first: if you are not prepared to put time into paperwork, don't do St Tammany. If you do not want to spend an extra hour after clinical STILL in clinical (day or evening), don't do St. Tammany.

On the plus end, the time you put into this particular instructor's paperwork (which I understand no other instructor requires) will be your saving grace in level two when you have an extra class on your plate.

The instructor in question is not the best at lecture, and the instructor in question is not the best at answering questions - but the thing to know (which you don't know when you register) is that the instructor who precepts your clinical rotation is not your only instructor. In lectures, there are THREE instructors who lecture, so you have two OTHER instructors to turn to when you flip into crisis mode (and you WILL at some point hit crisis mode).